Transformation of hematite in diasporic bauxite during reductive Bayer digestion and recovery of iron

Abstract The reductive Bayer digestion by using iron powder as reductant is proposed to convert hematite to magnetite and further to dissociate iron minerals from sodium aluminosilicate hydrate (desilication product, DSP) based on the differences of their surface properties. The results show that the differences of surface properties between magnetite and DSP in zeta potential, wettability and solvation trend facilitate magnetite to agglomerate, grow up and thus to dissociate from DSP. The increments of reductant amount and alkali concentration favor the transformation of hematite in digestion with the relative alumina recovery of 98.91%. Processing the resultant red mud can obtain qualified iron concentrate with iron grade of approximate 60% and recovery of about 86% through magnetic separation, resulting in reduction of red mud emission higher than 70%. The results are potential to develop a novel technology for processing high iron diasporic bauxite efficiently and provide references for comprehensive utilization of high iron red mud.